Family Services Team

Appletree Business Park
2875 Union Road Suite 356 - Cheektowaga

(716) 858-8349

The Family Services Team is a blended unit of the Department of Social Services which presents a "front door" to a wide range of family and youth supports for families without current services.  

Families without current services may come to FST to request assistance. If a family or youth has active services through MiiWrap, SPOA, Child Protective Services/Preventive Services, or Probation, they should speak with their case manager/Care Coordinator FIRST to address their concern. 

The goal of the Family Services Team is to assist families in stabilizing their home environments and meeting critical needs within the family which are preventing their success, such as family conflict, mental health, basic needs, disruptive or ungovernable youth behavior, or other types of challenges. 

Every family which visits the Family Services Team meets with an Intake specialist. The Intake specialist assesses each youth’s risks/strengths and the family’s needs, to determine optimal linkage to community based services. 

The Family Service Team may also be able to assist you if:

  • Youth willfully does not attend school regularly
  • Often disobeys parents, guardians, or other authority figures despite appropriate parental attempts to intervene
  • AWOL (Runaway) whereabouts unknown for over 24 hours
  • Substance abuse without treatment cooperation.

The goal of the Family Service Team is to assist families without current services in stabilizing their own home environments and preventing youth from penetrating the Juvenile Justice System if possible and appropriate.

What is PINS Diversion?

Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS) Diversion is a term used to describe youth with serious behavioral problems who present at the Family Services Team and are deemed eligible. If you have active services open now, you must work with your current service to address the youth's behavior.  

Who is a Diversion Eligible Youth?

A youth is eligible for Diversion if they have no other active services or involvement with Probation or the Juvenile Justice System. Families with no active services with youth under the age of 18 who are showing a pattern of ungovernable behavior, such as running away, curfew violations, alcohol and/or drug abuse, or severe school truancy may come to the FST to request assistance.

Who can bring a complaint?

Most complaints are made by parents, or, in the case of truancy, by school districts. You may not request Diversion services directly from FST if you already have MiiWrap Care Coordination, Preventive Services, or JDST Services/Probation. If you have any of those services, you should discuss your concerns with your case manager, Probation Officer, Juvenile Justice Counselor, or case worker first.  

Can I use Diversion to PREVENT problems with my teenager?

NO. Diversion cases are accepted only if a pattern of ungovernable behavior already exists and no other services are in place. 

How do I apply for services if I have no active services now?
  • Families should present themselves to Suite 356 at Appletree Business Park, Cheektowaga, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • Parents should be prepared to complete paperwork at the intake meeting with the FST staff. This intake meeting is usually one hour in length.
  • If appropriate, the parent will be referred to the Early Intervention Community Program as a first step in problem resolution.
  • If your family situation does not meet the criteria for Diversion, the intake worker may be able to direct you to appropriate services elsewhere.
Can I go directly to Family Court?

No. All Diversion complaints in Erie County must come through the Family Services Team. If you already have an active family service such as MiiWrap, Preventive Services, or JDST/Probation, you will not be eligible for services at FST and should speak with your current service provider first.

What if my child or one of my students is not attending school or refuses to attend school?

The parent/guardian and school should work together to develop a plan to address the truancy concerns and behaviors. Please review the Truancy Referral Packet below for the requirements for making a truancy referral including steps required prior to reaching out to the Family Services Team.  

For children under eighteen, do I have to bring my child for the Diversion interview? 

The parent may come to the intake appointment without the child or youth if the family/parent/child does not have active services already.

Forms and Resources

Truancy Referral Packet for Schools

Information about the Children's Single Point of Access (C-SPOA) supports.

For any family or youth concern, please call (716) 858-8349 to speak with the Family Services Team receptionist.